Photographic-film developing, draining and drying frame



Feb. 18, 1930. c. i.. GRIFFIN 1,747,770

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DEVELOPINQDRAINING AND DRYING FRAME Filed Deo. 16, 1927 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNHTED ST CHARLES L. GRIFFEN, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA PHOTOGRAPHIC-FLM DEVELOPIIG, DRAINING AND DRYING FRAME Application filed December 16, 1827.

This invention relates to the class of photography and pertains particularly to a frame for developing, draining and drying films.

rIhe present invention has for its primary object the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a film supporting frame designed to maintain the film during developing, in an upright position for draining and drying, the essential feature of the frame structure residing in the formation of the film-engaging portions of the frame in such a manner that the least possible amount of contact will be had between the film and the frame, thereby exposing portions of the film about the edges which are covered by filmholders of the type at present in use.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of means associated with the top bar thereof whereby the top edge of a film may be readily engagedto maintain the film in position.

Film-holders of the type now extensively used have the sides of the holding frame, and also the top and bottom bars thereof, formed of channel members of substantially rectangular cross-sectional design with the connecting wall of the member and one side wall thereof provided with a longitudinally extending series of apertures to permit the air to pass into the channels. It has been found in practice that a portion of one face of the film along each edge rests flat against one side flange or wall of the channel bars and has a large area of the surfaces within the channel covered by the unperforated sections of the wall. The result is that in drying films in this type of holder, the same sticks or dries fast and leaves a black edge around the film. The present invention aims to overcome this difficulty by the provision of a frame having the side bars and the top and bottom bars of V-shaped cross-sectional design so that only the edge of the film comes in contact with the bars of the frame leaving the entire surface of each face uncovered right to the edge of the film body. lith the present device a free circulation of air is had over all of each face of the film, permitting the same to dry Serial No. 240,573.

evenly thus eliminating the undesirable features above referred to.

The present invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modications mark no material departure from the salient features of the -invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l shows the film-holding frame embodying the present invention, in front elevation.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken theline 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view of one side of the rear of the frame.

upon

Figure l is a section taken upon the line 4 1 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken upon'the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure l5 is an exaggerated sectional view through one rail of the frame and a portion of the film therein showing the manner in which the film contacts with the frame.

igure .7 is a view in front elevation of the lower portion of the same.

Referring now, to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout'the se-veral views, the numeral l indicates generally the film-holding frame embodying the presentinventicn, the main portion of which comprises the side bars 2, the top bar 3, and the bottom bar il.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the' side bars of the frame are of v'-shaped cross-sectional design so that when the film 5 is in position in the frame, the side edges will be received in the crotches of the bars 2 as shown. As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, the only portion of the film which contacts with the bars 2 is one t 1e other of the corners 6, thereby permitting a free circulation of air between the two sections of the frame rail and the surfaces of the film over which they extend.

The top rail 3 comprises a single fiat member which connects between the upper ends of one side of the side rail 2, the film being positioned in the frame to overlie one face of this rail. The central portion of the rail 3 is provided with the down-turned spurs 7 yunder which the top edge of the film is pressed when it has been placed in position in the frame.

It will be seen that when a film is slipped into the frame it can be very easily secured in position by pressing the top edge inwardly, forcing it under the points of the spurs which will then act to securely hold the film in an upright position for developing, draining and drying. This method of holding the film is a vast improvement over the use of springs and hinged bars as now commonly used.

The bottom rail or bar 4 is also of V-shaped cross-sectional design with the exception of a short section at each end where a portion of each end of the forward section of this bar is out away as indicated at 8 thus leaving each s5 end of this bar entirely open upon the front side of the frame as at 9. Due to the shape of the bottom rail 4 the lower edge of the film rests therein in the same relation to the two portions of the rail as to the portions of the side rails 2. From this, it will be readily understood that ample means is provided for draining Vthe water from the side and bottom rails of the frame and at the same time both faces of the film throughout the bottom and side edges, are thoroughly aired.

Each side bar of the frame has projecting upwardly therefrom the usual members 10, the upper .ends of which are connected by the cross bar 11 having the slots 12 in the ends thereof for engagement over a suitable supporting device. i

In Figure 7 is shown a modified construction of the bottom bar of the fram-e, this bar being vindicated by the numeral 13. In this construction, the front portion of the bar is slotted transversely at 14, which slots extend through the bottom edge of the bar and in the center a single retaining tongue or spur 15 projects upwardly to maintain the central 0- part of the lower edge of the film in position.

As will be readily understood, the slots 14 provide for the draining of the water froml the rail of the frame.

I-Iaving thus -described my invention, what I claim is:-

w cross sectional design and said bottom bar A holder for photographic films for developing, draining and drying the same comprising a filmreceiving frame including bottom and side bars of substantially Vnshape'd having one side thereof cut away to the crotch thereof to provide drainage means, the said side and bottom bars opening toward the center of the frame to receive the marginal 55 portions of a film, a flat top bar extending across the frame and rigidly secured to the 

